This is your syllabus and overview of 1st Trimester assignments and its centerpiece project, Mock Congress. This trimester focuses on how laws are made, how to develop your political philosophy, and the Legislative and Executive branches of the federal government, as well as the functions of state governments.
I expect this to be one of the most hands-on, project-based classes here at SCHS. The purpose of this class, in the first trimester, is to learn:
The roles of the Legislative and Executive branches of the federal government, in detail How a bill becomes law How to develop your own political philosophy and how that applies to the political process An appreciation for the American system of checks and balances
Below are all of the positions available for Mock Congress:
President (elected) (1)
Leads the executive agenda; tries to enact the agenda he/she was voted in for
Appoints cabinet with similar views, relationships
Edits and focuses agenda from subordinates
NOTE: I cannot have a student with a history of late or sloppy work in this
position, as it will influence the entire outcome of the project. This is an important
position for a motivated student.
Appointed Cabinet Members: Secretary of Defense (1) Oversees defense policy, strategy
Secretary of State (1) Oversees foreign affairs Advises president on agenda
Department of Treasury (1) Regulate the Federal Reserve Set interest rates Control inflation
Department of Energy (1) Recommend policy on energy issues Research the impact of a variety of energy problems and solutions in the US
Department of Homeland Security (1)
Legislative Branch
President the of Senate (VP) (1) Speaker of the House (1) – presides over the House
House Majority leader (1)
Responsible for representing the party as a whole
Focuses agenda and strategy
Representatives (15-20)
Develop a political philosophy
Responsible for representing the issues in your district
Each representative will choose their own district to represent and will
Sponsor bills that will benefit the interests of the district
House Minority leader (1)
Senate Majority leader (1)
Senators- 2 from each section of the country (NE, South,Midwest, NW, SW) (10)
Senate Minority leader (1)
Structure of class
Week 1: Identify terms, branches, roles of government
Begin your campaign if necessary
Take the political spectrum quiz at http://politicalquiz.net/ (You do not need to
share results!)
Research positions you may want to take Political current events due
Reading: TBA
Week 2: Elections
Setting agendas, assigning districts, researching districts; study constitution Political current events due STATE OF STATE ADDRESS response (1 pg, double space)
Reading: TBA
Week 3: Setting agendas, preparing state of union (Executive) composing bills
Reading: TBA
Week 4: State of the Union speech due; budget, bills due. LATE BILLS NOT ACCEPTED WITHOUT GOOD, PARENT SIGNED EXCUSE! I CANNOT NEGOTIATE ON THIS POLICY. If you do not participate with this part of the project, you are in effect lowering the experience of the rest of the class. You will be asked to turn in a lengthy research paper instead! (turn in to Speaker,
President, and Mr. K);
Week 5: Congress in session: Bill introductions (for generated bills), assignment to
committees, committees set meeting times, divide
workload, research duties –Jan. 13th; (need 1 hour strand)
Week 6: Committees; Political current event due; response to an aspect of American political life (2 pg. double space)
Week 7: Committees, committee assessment will take place sometime during weeks 5-7
Week 8: Congress in session Feb 3: debates (need 2 hour strand)
Week 9: Congress in session, vote on bills; send passed bills to President
Week 10: collect vetoed bills
Week 11: Congress final session Mar. 1 final vote on bills, end of Legislative session,
President final pocket vetoes
Week 12: Media literacy assignment due; Constitution test must be finished by this time
Required products, First Trimester
Executive: State of Union speech, Agenda or Department Agenda, Budget, constitution test, response to an aspect of American political life paper, political philosophy
President’s Agenda will include the refinement of policy recommendations from
the various Cabinet heads, with a rating of most important to least important for
each priority
Department Agenda will include a detailed breakdown of the three top priorities
in your area of research/expertise
Budget: This work is done collaboratively with the entire Executive branch.
The budget, simply put, lays out what the President would like to spend
and how the President would like to see money collected for the expenses,
and then list the difference (surplus or deficit)
For Fiscal Year 2011, the Federal government expects to received 2.713
trillion dollars in revenues. This is your baseline.
Constitution test 100 points
Craft 3 bills for mock Congress 45 points (15 each)
Positions paper 20 points
Media Literacy 50 points
Response to an aspect of American political life (2 pg. paper) 75 points
Political philosophy paper (1-2 pg. paper) 75 points
Committee grading 20 points (10 points for self-assess, 10 for teacher assess)
20 articles on political current events 20 points
Other small assignments as needed, points TBA
All work is accepted after revision and consultation with teacher. Please do not feel bad when I send work back; I send a lot of work back so that you can incorporate the feedback that I give. Feedback depends on individual learning needs.
NOTE: all work submitted via email should have the period and assignment placed on the subject line of the email.
Policies: SCHS policy allows students to earn an ‘Incomplete’ grade for students with late work. All late work will be deducted 20% in points. Every attempt is made for students to work around their own schedule, especially in regard to the Media Literacy project and the Constitution test, which are due by the end of the
This is your syllabus and overview of 1st Trimester assignments and its centerpiece project, Mock Congress. This trimester focuses on how laws are made, how to develop your political philosophy, and the Legislative and Executive branches of the federal government, as well as the functions of state governments.
I expect this to be one of the most hands-on, project-based classes here at SCHS. The purpose of this class, in the first trimester, is to learn:
The roles of the Legislative and Executive branches of the federal government, in detail
How a bill becomes law
How to develop your own political philosophy and how that applies to the political process
An appreciation for the American system of checks and balances
Below are all of the positions available for Mock Congress:
President (elected) (1)
Leads the executive agenda; tries to enact the agenda he/she was voted in for
Appoints cabinet with similar views, relationships
Edits and focuses agenda from subordinates
NOTE: I cannot have a student with a history of late or sloppy work in this
position, as it will influence the entire outcome of the project. This is an important
position for a motivated student.
Appointed Cabinet Members: Secretary of Defense (1)
Oversees defense policy, strategy
Secretary of State (1)
Oversees foreign affairs
Advises president on agenda
Department of Treasury (1)
Regulate the Federal Reserve
Set interest rates
Control inflation
Department of Energy (1)
Recommend policy on energy issues
Research the impact of a variety of energy problems and
solutions in the US
Department of Homeland Security (1)
Legislative Branch
President the of Senate (VP) (1)
Speaker of the House (1) – presides over the House
House Majority leader (1)
Responsible for representing the party as a whole
Focuses agenda and strategy
Representatives (15-20)
Develop a political philosophy
Responsible for representing the issues in your district
Each representative will choose their own district to represent and will
Sponsor bills that will benefit the interests of the district
House Minority leader (1)
Senate Majority leader (1)
Senators- 2 from each section of the country (NE, South,Midwest, NW, SW) (10)
Senate Minority leader (1)
Structure of class
Week 1: Identify terms, branches, roles of government
Begin your campaign if necessary
Take the political spectrum quiz at http://politicalquiz.net/ (You do not need to
share results!)
Research positions you may want to take Political current events due
Reading: TBA
Week 2: Elections
Setting agendas, assigning districts, researching districts; study constitution
Political current events due STATE OF STATE ADDRESS response (1 pg, double space)
Reading: TBA
Week 3: Setting agendas, preparing state of union (Executive) composing bills
Reading: TBA
Week 4: State of the Union speech due; budget, bills due. LATE BILLS NOT ACCEPTED WITHOUT GOOD, PARENT SIGNED EXCUSE! I CANNOT NEGOTIATE ON THIS POLICY. If you do not participate with this part of the project, you are in effect lowering the experience of the rest of the class. You will be asked to turn in a lengthy research paper instead! (turn in to Speaker,
President, and Mr. K);
Week 5: Congress in session: Bill introductions (for generated bills), assignment to
committees, committees set meeting times, divide
workload, research duties –Jan. 13th; (need 1 hour strand)
Week 6: Committees; Political current event due; response to an aspect of American political life (2 pg. double space)
Week 7: Committees, committee assessment will take place sometime during weeks 5-7
Week 8: Congress in session Feb 3: debates (need 2 hour strand)
Week 9: Congress in session, vote on bills; send passed bills to President
Week 10: collect vetoed bills
Week 11: Congress final session Mar. 1 final vote on bills, end of Legislative session,
President final pocket vetoes
Week 12: Media literacy assignment due; Constitution test must be finished by this time
Required products, First Trimester
Executive: State of Union speech, Agenda or Department Agenda, Budget, constitution test, response to an aspect of American political life paper, political philosophy
President’s Agenda will include the refinement of policy recommendations from
the various Cabinet heads, with a rating of most important to least important for
each priority
Department Agenda will include a detailed breakdown of the three top priorities
in your area of research/expertise
Budget: This work is done collaboratively with the entire Executive branch.
The budget, simply put, lays out what the President would like to spend
and how the President would like to see money collected for the expenses,
and then list the difference (surplus or deficit)
For Fiscal Year 2011, the Federal government expects to received 2.713
trillion dollars in revenues. This is your baseline.
http://budget.house.gov/pres_budgets/fy2010/02.26.09_Summary_Presidents_fy2010budget.pdf
These are the personal income tax rates, by income, in theUSfor
2010.Your budget will make recommendations on these tax rates.
http://www.moneychimp.com/features/tax_brackets.htm
The budget will include a President’s message, which will set the tone desired
from the Congress
Legislative: Positions, three bills per member, Constitution test, response to an aspect of American political life paper, political philosophy paper
Mock Congress Conventions: Note: Procedures may differ slightly from the actual process of government, due to logistics, etc.
Houses meet separately, except for State ofUnion
Committees meet in class time
Congress in session is for debate, voting,
We will follow this process, MINUS THE SUBCOMMITTEE, when crafting and introducing our bills.
http://mercury.educ.kent.edu/database/eureka/documents/HowABillBecomesALaw_TeacherAndStudent.pdf
COMMITTEES
All Representatives and Senators will serve on at least two committees. These are the committees on which you may serve:
Committee Offices
Grading
Major Assignments
Constitution test 100 points
Craft 3 bills for mock Congress 45 points (15 each)
Positions paper 20 points
Media Literacy 50 points
Response to an aspect of American political life (2 pg. paper) 75 points
Political philosophy paper (1-2 pg. paper) 75 points
Committee grading 20 points (10 points for self-assess, 10 for teacher assess)
20 articles on political current events 20 points
Other small assignments as needed, points TBA
All work is accepted after revision and consultation with teacher. Please do not feel bad when I send work back; I send a lot of work back so that you can incorporate the feedback that I give. Feedback depends on individual learning needs.
NOTE: all work submitted via email should have the period and assignment placed on the subject line of the email.
Policies: SCHS policy allows students to earn an ‘Incomplete’ grade for students with late work. All late work will be deducted 20% in points. Every attempt is made for students to work around their own schedule, especially in regard to the Media Literacy project and the Constitution test, which are due by the end of the